Dr. Stephan Astegger

Careers in Concept: Dr. Stephan Astegger

Time: 1:30 pm

Language: German

After his chemistry studies at the University of Innsbruck and his diploma thesis about co-adsorbed oxygen and sulphur at platinum(111), Dr. Astegger went to the TU Vienna and did his PhD there in Prof. Noller's and Ass. Prof. Lercher's labs on the catalytic properties of low dispersed Ni_xPt_1-x/SiO₂ catalysts. Subsequently, he started working for Lenzing AG, where he was concerned with the development of the Lyocell process.

In 1992, he became head of Lenzing's chemistry laboratories and responsible for the chemical process control (receiving control, in-process inspection, final testing and industrial safety). Moreover, he supervises occasional environmental impact studies and the accredited testing lab for trace element analysis. He is also head of the reference lab for the global Lenzing group and since 2014 he additionally operates as quality manager for the Lenzing facility.

With his own career as an example Dr. Astegger talks in our lecture series about the most important steps for young scientists to start a successful career in the industry.

Dr. Elisabeth Schneider-Scherzer

Careers in Concept: Dr. Elisabeth Schneider-Scherzer

Time: 2:30 pm

Language: German

Elisabeth Schneider-Scherzer studied chemistry at the University of Innsbruck. During her doctoral thesis she focused on biochemistry and molecular genetics, with a strong bias on protein chemistry (virus induced DNA methylation in E.coli). Originally having planned a career in research, an unexpected offer from former Biochemie (now Sandoz, Novartis) motivated her to move to pharmaceutical industry. After 7 years in research, Elisabeth joined the Quality Assurance department. In the first years she was responsible to set-up a complete Quality System across the Austrian production sites of Sandoz (Kundl, Schaftenau). Based on this experience she made her career up to be the Site Quality Head for these sites.

In 2008, she decided to step up from local to global responsibilities. Till 2011 she was responsible for the Quality Assurance of 11 production sites in Europe, Turkey and India, and for the Quality of purchasing in China.

End of 2013 she received the offer to take over the responsibility for Quality Assurance of the global Sandoz Product Development, in this role responsible for 6 Development Centers in Europe, Canada and U.S.

In 2016, Elisabeth decided, after 27 years with Sandoz, to quit and to found her own business providing Consultancy Services for pharmaceutical industry. Currently she is advising two customers in Europe on building the appropriate Quality Systems in their pharmaceutical development.

In our lecture series "Careers in Concept" Dr. Schneider-Scherzer speaks about opportunities for young scientists in the pharmaceutical industry.

Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Klaus Rapp

Alles Leben ist Chemie - von der Biochemie in die Energiewirtschaft

Time: 4:30 pm

Language: German

After his studies in technical chemistry / biochemistry and biotechnology at the TU Graz, Dr. Rapp did his PhD on quality management in analytical chemistry at Österreichische Draukraftwerke AG. Subsequently, he started working at Verfahren Umwelt Management GmbH (VUM, formerly VERBUND Umwelttechnik GmbH) and carried out environmental impact assessments in the field of industry and infrastructure. In 2002, he became head of project development at VERBUND and head of environmental consulting at VUM. Later in 2002, he was promoted to authorised officer and finally chief executive officer in 2003. Since that time Dr. Rapp has reorganised VUM towards a technical office with four departments (chemistry, environmental technology, electrotechnology and landscape management) and established a physico-chemical laboratory.

Since 2008, Dr. Rapp gives lectures at the TU Vienna and since 2013 also at the University of Klagenfurt in the fields of environmental technology, environmental and energy law. Dr. Rapp is a board member of the Gesellschaft Österreichischer Chemiker (GÖCH) and head of the local division of Kärnten.

In our lecture series "Careers in Concept", with his ample experience both in the academical and corporate sector Dr. Rapp offers many pieces of information for young scientists for the start into their professional life.